Topics

46

Rod Building / Purple and green and mo' purple

« on: June 13, 2015, 11:14:52 PM »

Blank is one of those Phenix 2nds that were on sale at this year's DATD. This one came painted in metallic purple. Owner's request... do it up in purple and green. Sounds straight forward enough. Here's the final result.

Paracord handle, Alps Centra-lock reel seat, turkshead galore.


3 thread tiger wrap.


A closer look by the trim wrap.


Alps XN in black.


And the rest of the guide wraps.

47

Tackle Talk / New Daiwas?

« on: May 22, 2015, 06:19:53 PM »

So I've heard rumors from an inside source of a new Lexa HD. Looks like it might be true. Hoping it's available in a 200 size for the U.S. http://tzlure.com/2016-daiwa.html



Oh and is that a Trini/Torium killer I see? 


Hopefully we'll find out this coming ICAST 2015.

48

Rod Building / make it green and gold he said...

« on: May 14, 2015, 01:11:01 AM »

...make it look like the website he said. I'll be ready in two months he said. I'm a rod smith not a magician!



cause I said I'd post a teaser 

49

Rod Building / Varmac in red and black

« on: May 03, 2015, 09:38:01 PM »

Varmac ( available at Squidco ) apparently added a new model to their line up. I forget the name or number but these are their try at some old school glass. This particular blank feels like and old Truline D7 or D8. Heavy, helluva backbone, and some flex in the tip. Client gave me some creative freedom on this one. "Do it up in red and black and call when it's done". My favorite kind of instructions. 

I went with a red and black tiger. Red and black base wrap with red on top.


A little inlay work on the trim bands.


And the matching guide wraps. Just some plain old boat guides here.


Cool thing is this rod will be matched up to an old red plate Penn Senator 113H which is currently undergoing some performance mods here at my workbench. It brings a smile to my ugly mug knowing that there's still demand for some old school muscle for the purpose of putting fish on deck.

50

Rod Building / Ensimmäinen kutoa

« on: April 29, 2015, 11:01:23 AM »

Finnish translation: my first weave... at least that's what Google translator says.

This one's for a guy who was on our 2.5 day last summer. My friend who was charter master put together some rod kits to raffle off. Winners could choose whatever they wanted on the rod. I was asked to be one of the builders.

The winner I'm building for is a Finland native and requested a Finnish themed rod with the nations flag incorporated somewhere. A quick Google search and the ideas started brewing. Very simple flag design. Too cheesy to just print out a decal so I chose to venture into something I have put off for quite awhile. A dreaded weave.

With an internet image to go off of I started freehanding the design. Half an hour later, wala... finnished! Yeah yeah not really a challenging design, but you gotta start somewhere.

Left some space where his name will be placed.


And the guide wrap.


I gotta say this weaving thing while still intimidating is kinda fun. Hope I can progress in the technique and still remain somewhat sane. ( is that even possible?! )

51

Saltwater Boat Fishing Reports / SCI 4/11 plan B

« on: April 15, 2015, 05:00:56 PM »

Quick report. Last minute call boat needed a sub. Grabbed my boots and deckie shirt and down to the docks I went. Left on Friday night for a 1.5 day Cortes Banks trip in search of BFT. Mother nature said no. Changed heading for SCI instead which turned out to be the better choice.

Bumpy ride out during the night. Calmed down closer to the island. Woke up to this.


Caught a bunch of these.


And finished the day filling up on rockfish. Looked like everyone else scored according to the fish counts. Highlight of the day, taught a kid how to yoyo, 2 cranks later he's on. Stoked.

Bonus pic. Wanted to pin this on someones hook but I guess it escaped through the outflow. Oh well.

52

Rod Building / Rainshadow Revelation 72H

« on: April 13, 2015, 05:19:33 PM »

Wrapped this one up for the Heroes On The Water fundraising tournament in Mission Bay this weekend. This one will be awarded to the 1st place bass division winner. Blank is the Rainshadow REVC72H which is 7'2 and rated fast, 12-25lb, 3/8-1 1/4oz. Alps MXN guides, MVT reel seat, Super Grade cork split grip, drop shot hook keeper, and aluminum bling rings all generously donated from Batson Enterprises. Great for heavier bay bass fishing as well as hucking smaller plastics at calicos in the kelp. Gonna have to order one for myself if I don't win it back. 

53

Fishing Talk / FREE Fred Hall SD tickets

« on: March 26, 2015, 01:48:05 PM »

Call your local SD county Ford dealership. You're welcome. 

54

Rod Building / Seeker 908 all blued up

« on: March 22, 2015, 08:21:24 PM »

This one's for a friend aboard the RRIII. It wont stay this pretty for long. So a few before shots before he puts this tool to use.

Fuji seat. Light weight EVA protected with X flock.


Some basic inlay work.


Metallic blue JT Dragon Scale with a "fishnet" layed on top.


Fuji Alconite guides. Its the light weight offering in their ring lineup. They also make your wallet lighter.   


And the pointy end.

55

Saltwater Boat Fishing Reports / 'Nados run 3/11

« on: March 15, 2015, 12:40:14 AM »

*Late report

Had the itch to fish. So Tuesday night I hopped on the Invicta out of H&M and headed south with yellows on my mind. Woke up the next morning and spent the day doing the run n gun thing with the 6x jr tied on. Ended up with 3 of the 23 mossbacks caught for the trip. Also landed 2 cudas, a bonito, and a handful of rockfish which were either given away or thrown back. Another great boat, great crew, great trip report for the books. Exactly what I needed after a busy FHLB show.   

Had some Islands and deck shots taken with my phone but those came out blurry. But here's 2 and 3 before slicing and dicing. Number 1 was already bagged and given away to family.

56

Rod Building / Rainshadow RCLB70L plus a sneak peak

« on: March 02, 2015, 12:29:23 AM »

Here's my contribution to the Batson raffle at this year's FHLB show. This one I'm told will be given away in the kid's category. It's a Rainshadow RCLB70L all kitted up in Alps components and dec'd out in some Gudebrod #9060. Enjoy.











And a sneak peek ( a P Soul exclusive ) at a bundle of Batsons to be displayed at the show. Nothing fancy but I did add a small touch of "flair" to each one. Do swing by the booth and get your greasy hands all over these. The more they send me the longer my wish list becomes. 

57

Saltwater Boat Fishing Reports / Coronado Islands 1/24

« on: January 25, 2015, 11:38:17 PM »

Got invited to fish the Islands on a friend's boat this past Saturday for free. The kicker, cook for 26. No problem!

Left the dock a bit late. Motored over to E Bros, apparently bait was scarce that morning so finding a bin with bait was a bit of an Easter Egg hunt. Finally found some chovies and sardines, well enough to fill half the tanks anyway. At least they were quality pieces and just the right size. Left the barge a bit later maybe an hour or so behind schedule, but time flies when your burning through breakfast burritos.

Made our way down to the Islands passing a dozen or so whales. Beatiful weather which fortunately held up throughout the day. Got to the first spot at about 10am. Quickly find out the fish that were there yesterday ( yt limits worth ) have moved on. So off to find a new spot.

Found a place that looked very lively and it produced some biters right off the bat. A good mix of rockfish were first to come over the rail. Bonito then made an apperance literally chasing the chumline out of the water. Then the yellows found the boat. Dropper loops, flyline, and yoyo were the ticket. Basically get your line in the water and hold on. I wouldn't say wide open but more of a good steady bottom pick with flurries of tails and bones throughout the entire day. Got to escape from the galley for a bit to participate in the fun. Nabbed a ling, yellow, bonito, and some assorted rockfish all on the yoyo. Nothing I caught was of size ( no surprise    ) but there were some huge sheephead and whitefish making it into the killbox before the drop into the rsw.

For a moment I took a step back to soak in the view. I could of snapped a picture and it would look like classic summer time fishing down at the islands. Don't think I can remember January fishing like this. Hopefully a sign of good things to come this season. Motored back to the dock late killing time in the channel to cut fish but not a complaint heard about it. 

58

Saltwater Boat Fishing Reports / Saturday Morning Sightings 12/6

« on: December 06, 2014, 09:59:01 PM »

Seems to be the theme of the day.

Spotted the Boma and it's fearless leader coming off the freeway this early AM. Not too long after bumped into Sasquatch while stumbling into the local B&T shop.

Came back to my chariot to see that the sticker fairy paid me a visit. 


While fishing we were graced with the presence of the great albino one.


Never gets old. 

Oh and the fishing... well due to confidentiality agreements I must spare the details. All I can say, I can't complain. 

59

Salt Water Shore Fishing Reports / HMB rock hoppin

« on: November 26, 2014, 08:39:29 AM »

Found some time to sneak away from vacation duties and get to some REAL vacation duties. Grabbed some leadheads and plastics and raced over to Half Moon Bay with the goal of landing a shore ling.

Surf report was calling for overhead plus on the Mavericks side. As you can see not much of an issue inside at  Miramar Beach. Actually very calm for November here. And warm too!


Hopped my way to the deeper areas where the rockfish school up. Last 2 hours of the rising tide so not very ideal for poke poling. I did try for a bit but the good holes were submerged far too deep. Started chucking rubber in close to the base of the jetty. Lot of casualties due to nicked leaders. Switched to 40#. Problem solved.

Looking south. So clear you can almost see La Jolla. 


Found a nice submerged rock pile and stated hitting it hard. Missed a few taps. Finally got one to stick. A bit of a tug of war but guess who won...


A little guy. 21" to be exact. But a true fighter. Snapped the pic and promptly released. Mission accomplished. 

Didn't get anything else to stick. Did see a couple of brown rockfish cruising along the rocks. Big ones. But they showed zero interest in my offerings. Oh well. Til next time.

60

Rod Building / double trouble

« on: November 22, 2014, 12:07:51 PM »

Built me up a "jetty jackpole". Hopefully I get to test this one out next week and land one of those creatures that lurk  down in the jetty rocks. Put a twist on this one and built it with 2 leader options, one short and one long. Cool thing about it is its a spare parts build.

The shaft is the tip end of some calcutta bamboo that I normally use to build gaffs. The butt cap is used from a broken rod. Handle is some old funky brown hypalon I acquired in a package deal. Seine cord was the last bit I had on a nearly finished roll.


The stainless wire is from an old broken whisker, yes the kitchen utensil. Its epoxied and wrapped on the tip end. Leaders are attached via snap swivels.


Short rig locked and loaded with the safety on. Hook keeper is a zip tie with an eye. It slides so you can keep the leaders under tension.


Short rig deployed.


Long rig locked and loaded with the safety on.


Long rig deployed.


And the whole shebang. No monkeying around.